APRICOT & CHIA BUSH BALLS

NO REFINED SUGAR & NUT-FREE!

INGREDIENTS
1 CUP DRIED APRICOTS (OR DRIED CRANBERRIES)
1 CUP DRIED DATES (PITTED- NO STONES)
1 TBSP CHIA SEEDS (BLACK OR WHITE)
1 CUP PUMPKIN SEEDS
1 TBSP GROUND FLAXSEED (IF YOU HAVE IT)
1 TBSP COCONUT OIL (MAPLE SYRUP OR HONEY) 
COAT WITH: DESICCATED (GRATED) COCONUT

UTENSILS:
ELECTRIC CHOPPER/BLENDER (OR PESTLE & MORTAR), SMALL BOWL, LARGE MIXING BOWL, PLATE OR TUPPER-WEAR, TABLESPOON, MEASURING CUP, KNIFE. 

METHOD:
SOAK THE DATES IN (A CUP FULL OF) BOILING WATER, IN A BOWL, FOR 5 MINUTES, TO SOFTEN.
MEANWHILE, MEASURE OUT THE PUMPKIN (PEPITA) SEEDS BEFORE ‘SMASHING’ THEM (USING AN ELECTRIC BLENDER OR MANUALLY) UNTIL THEY ARE A FEW MILLIMETRES IN SIZE. SET ASIDE.
DRAIN THE WATER FROM THE DATES AND APRICOTS AND SMASH/BLEND THEM TOO, (UNTIL THE MIXTURE IS PASTE-LIKE.)
ADD THE COCONUT OIL, CHIA SEEDS, CRUSHED PUMPKIN SEEDS & FLAXSEED TO THE DATE PASTE. STIR.
TAKE A TABLESPOON OF THE MIXTURE. MIX AND ROLL INTO A FIRM BALL (ABOUT 3CM DIAMETER)
ROLL IN THE COCONUT, PLACE ON A PLATE AND REPEAT UNTIL ALL THE MIXTURE HAS BEEN ROLLED INTO BALLS. PLACE IN THE FRIDGE TO FIRM UP. 

STORAGE: STAYS FRESH IN THE FRIDGE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OR IN THE FREEZER FOR MONTHS!

NUTRITIONAL HACK: FLAXSEED HAS A MULTITUDE OF HEALTH BENEFITS. BEING RICH IN FIBRE AND OMEGA-3, IT IMPROVES BOTH GUT AND HEART HEALTH. IT ALSO REALLY HELPS TO BIND THE BUSH BALLS TOGETHER!